The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has initiated the process to extradite businessman Timur Mindich from Israel, following allegations of his involvement in a criminal organization. This development was confirmed by NABU detective Oleksandr Abakumov during an interview on March 31.
According to Abakumov, the bureau submitted all necessary materials for the extradition request to the Office of the Prosecutor General two weeks ago. He noted that the documents are currently awaiting the prosecutor general’s signature. “There are a number of procedures involved in approving an extradition request,” he explained.
Israel is known for its stringent extradition laws, requiring comprehensive documentation to support any request. Abakumov indicated that NABU has prepared and translated a substantial amount of evidence to substantiate their suspicions against Mindich and another suspect. He expressed optimism that Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko would sign the extradition request soon, allowing NABU to engage directly with Israeli authorities.
When asked about the typical duration for the prosecutor general’s approval, Abakumov stated that it varies based on the volume of materials and the prosecutor’s availability. He expressed hope for a prompt resolution, although he acknowledged that Israel generally treats extradition requests as exceptions rather than norms.
Mindich, who is a co-founder of the entertainment studio Kvartal-95, is under suspicion for his alleged role in a criminal organization that reportedly extorted bribes from contractors of Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company. The organization is accused of demanding kickbacks ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values. Eight individuals have been implicated in this case.
Mindich reportedly left Ukraine on the night of November 10, shortly before the National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions against him. In a statement to Ukrainian media, he rejected the allegations as manipulative and stated that he has no intention of returning to Ukraine.
Despite the challenges associated with extraditing individuals from Israel, there have been instances in the past where Israeli citizens have been extradited to Ukraine. However, Abakumov cautioned against assuming that such an outcome would be straightforward.
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The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is pursuing the extradition of Timur Mindich from Israel, amid serious corruption allegations. The process involves complex legal procedures and significant documentation to support the request.